Journal-box lid



March s, 1928,. B. W. KADEL JOURNALBQX LID Filed Feb. 25. 1926 'l/I/l/AIIIIIII-IIIIIII IIIIA Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENTJI OFFICE.

BYERS W. KADEL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR ,TO THE SYMINGTON COM-PANY, OF NEW YORK, N, Y., A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

JOURNAL-BOX LID.

Application filed February This invention relates to journal boxes and,more particularly, to av spring actuated lid therefor which has a springso constructed that improper assembly thereof is prevented. v

The principal object of my invention, generally considered is theprovision of a spring retainer for journal box lids so forinedthat it isimpossible to assemble the same with the lid and hinging member thereforin other than the correct position.

An object of my invention is the provision of a. spring retainer formedwith extensions which cooperate with the associated lid and preventimproper assembly with respect thereto.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a retainer forstressing the spring of a spring actuated journal box lid provided withflanges overlying the hinging portions of the lid so that it' isimpossible to assemble the retainer with respect thereto in invertedposition.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a spring retainerfor spring actuated journal box lids formed with apertures for pivotingthe same with respect to the journal box and lid and extensions adjacentsaid apertures which engage the ad jacent portion of the lid and preventalinement of the hinging apertures'in the retainer and lid when theretainer is improperly assembled with respect thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating tothe particulararrangement and combination of the various parts will become apparent asthe description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereofis defined by the appended claims:

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a journal box lid and an associatedspring and retainer therefor embodying features of my in vention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the lid, spring and spring retainerpivotally con nected to an associatedjournal box.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the retainer inrelease position with respect to the spring. 7

Figure l is a partial sectional view on the lineH of Figure 2. j

Figure 5 is an end elevation of a modified form of spring retainer; 7

Referring to the drawings in detail, like 25, 1926. Serial No. 90,669.

parts being designated by like reference characters, and consideringfirst the modification of my invention illustrated in Figures '1 to 4,inclusive, a journal box 1 is shown provided with a hinge lug 2 formedwith a cam-shaped surface 3 for a be hereinafter explained.

A lid 4: is hinged to the journal box 1 by means of a pintle or hingepin 5 extending through the hinge h1g2 on the journal box. The pintlemay be heldin position in any desired manner but,in the presentinstance, the lid is shown formed of sheet metal and the hingingportions or ears 6 are provided with tabs or tongues 8 which are bentover the ends of the hinge pin 5 for retaining the purpose to c same inplace. The lid, in the present instance, is shown reinforced by beingembossed or corrugated, as indicated at 9.

For holding the lid in open or closed position, a double coil spring 10is shown, the ends of which are secured to approximately the centralportion of the lid 4 by means of a plate 11 connected to said .lid byrivets or other securing means 12. Between the coils 13 of the spring ona straight portion thereof is preferably mounted a roller or otheranti-friction device 14 which is adapted to ride or roll on thecam-shaped surface 3 of the hinge lug 2 and hold the lid in either openor closed position in a well known manner as will be understood. Forplacing the spring under initial tension, a

spring retainer 15 is provided formed with a spring seat 16 adapted toengage the coils 13 of the spring and with hinging ears or portions 17perforated for receiving the hinge pin or pintle 5 for pivotallyconnecting the lid and retainer with respect to the journal box 1. Forassembling the parts in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, thepintle is firstinserted through the registering apertures in the lidears, the hinging lug, and the spring retainer, the partsbeingapproximately in the position shown in Figure 3. The spring 10 isthen placed. under the desired initial tension by moving the re tainer15 downwardly about the hinge pintle 5 from the position shown in Figure3 to that shown in Figure 2 where the spring seating portion 16 overliesand engages the coils 13 of the spring 10 and places said springunderthe desired initial tension.

It has been found'that, in the past, some workmen are apt to assemblethe retainer with respect to the associated lid and journal box inimproper or inverted position with the curved spring housing portionconcave upwardly instead of downwardly. To remedy such a possibility ofimproper assembly, I construct my spring retainer 15 with extensions 18adapted to overlie the hinging ears on the lid with the distance betweenthe outer edges of the extensions 18 greater than the distance betweenthe inner edges of the cars (3 so that it is impossible to assemble theretainer with respect to the lid with the extensions or flanges 18between the hinging lugs or cars (5 thereon or in any other positionthan that shown in the drawings.

Referring to Figure 5, a modified form of spring retainer 15 is shownprovided with a spring seating portion 16- and hinging portions 17. Inthis embodiment of my invention, extensions 18 are provided, which,instead of overlying the associated ears or hinging portions 6 of thelid, merely extend radially outward for a distance greater than thatbetween the hinging ears (3 and the cutout portion 19 of the journal boxlid so that said retainer can only be assembled with respect to thelidwith the extensions 18 positioned away from the closure portionproper of the lid because, if positioned toward the closure portion ofthe lid, the extensions 18 would engage said lid atthe out-out portion19 thereof and prevent alinement of the hinging apertures in the retainer with the hinging ears on the'lid' so that assembly with respectthereto would be impossible. 7

By virtue of the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have devised aspring retainer for journal box lids which is fool-proof in that it isimpossible to assemble it incorrect:- lywith respect thereto because, inaccordance with one modification, the outstanding curved flanges wouldengage with the hinging ears on the journal box lid and, in the othermodification, the radially disposed extensions would engage with theclosure portion proper of the lid if it were attempted to assembletheretainer with respect to the lid in other than correct position.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is: i

1. In combination with a journal box having a lug with a cam surface, ahinged lid therefor, a spring one end of which is connected to the lidand another end of which engages the cam surface, and retainer meanspivotally mounted with respect to the lid and engaging an intermediateportion of said spring for stressing the same and holding it inassembled position, said means being formed with anoutward extensionpreventing incorrect assembly thereof.

2. In combination with a journal box having a lug with a cam surface, alid formed with hinge ears, a hinge pintle extendin through said earsand lug for pivoting sai lid to the box, a spring one end of which ispivoted to the lid and the other end of which engages the cam surface onthe lug, and retamer means pivoted on said pintle and adapted for beingforced over an intermediate portion of said spring for stressing thesame, said retainer means being extended outwardly for a distancesullirient to prevent its being assembled incorrectly.

3. In combination with a journal box having a hinge lug formed with anexterior cam surface, a lid pivoted thereto by means of a hinge pinextending through said lag and binge portions on the lid, a springpivotally connected with an intermediate portion of said lidand formedwith anti-friction means on the other end thereof, said anti-frictionmeans engaging the cam surface on the lug, and retainer means pivoted onsaid pin and adapted for rotation thereabout for engag ing anintermediate portion of said spring to stress the same and hold it inassembled relation with respect to said lid for holding the lid in openor closed position, said retainer being provided with extensionsadjacent the hinge portions on the lid for preventing incorrect assemblythereof by engaging said lid when applied in any position but thecorrect one.

4. In combination with a journal box having a hinge lug formed with anexterior cam surface, a lid pivoted to said lug by a pintle extendingthrough hinge portions thereof and said hinge lug, a double coil torsionspring with an end portion thereof pivotally connected to a centralportion of the lid and anothcrcnd portion with an anti-'lrict ion rollerthereon engaging the cam surface on the lug. and retainer meanspivotally connected with respect to said box and formed with a housingportion adapted for engaging the coil portions on the spring forstressing said spring and holding the same in position, the pivotedportions of said retainer being formed with extensions which engageadjacent portions of the lid if it is attempted to apply the sameincorrectly with respect thereto.

5. In combination with a journal box having a hinge lug formed with acam surface thereon, a hinged lid therefor, a spring one end of which isconnected to the lid and the opposite end of which engages the camsurface for holding the lid in open or closed positions, and retainermeans adapted to engage an intermediate portion of the spring forapplying the desired initial stress thereto and holding it in assembledposition, said retainer means being hinged adjacent the hinged portionsof the lid and formed with flanges normally overlying said hingedportions of the lid for preventing incorrect assembly therewith.

Ell

lltl

6. In combination with a journal box, a lug thereon formed with a camsurface, a lid formed with hinging portions, a hinge pin extendingthrough said hinging portions and lug for pivot-ally connecting said lidand box, a spring one end of which is pivotally connected with respectto the lid and the other end of which cooperates with the cam surface onthe lug for holding the lid in open or closed positions, and springretainer means pivoted on said pin and adapted for rotation thereaboutto engage an intermediate portion of the spring and stress the same,said retainer means being formed with flanges extending outwardly overthe adjacent hinging portions on the lid for preventing insertion ofsaid flange portions therebetween and in correct assembly with respectthereto.

7. In combination with a journal box having a hinge lug formed on theexterior thereof with a cam surface, a lid pivoted thereto by means of ahinge pin extending through the hinge lug and registering hinge portionson the lid, a spring pivotally connected to an intermediate portion ofsaid lid and formed with anti-friction means on another portion thereof,said anti-friction means being adapted for engagement with the camsurface on the lug, and retainer means pivoted on said pin and adaptedfor rotation thereabout for engaging an intermediate portion of saidspring to stress the same and hold it in assembled relation with respectto said lid for causing engagement of said antifriction means with thecam surface on the lug to hold the lid in open or closed position, saidretainer being formed with flanges extending outwardly and overlyingadjacent portions of the hinging portions on the lid for preventingincorrect assembly with respect thereto.

8. In combination with a journal box having a hinge lug formed with anexterior cam surface, a lid pivotally connected to said lug by a pintleextending through hinge portions thereof and said hinge lug, a

double coil torsion spring with an end por-.

tion thereof pivotally connected to a central portion of the lid andanother end portion with an anti-friction roller pivotally con 'nectedthereon and adapted for engagement coil portions of the spring forstressing said spring and holding the roller thereon in resilientengagement with the cam surface on the lug, the pivoted portions of saidretainer being formed with angular extensions overlying adjacent hingeportions of the lid but spaced therefrom when correctly assembled withrespect thereto, said angular portions beingadapted for preventingincorrect assembly of the retaine 9. A spring retainer formed with aportion adapted to engage and stress an intermediate portion of ajournal box lid spring and another portion perforated for pivotalengagement with respect to a journal box and lid pivoted thereto, saidperforated portion lying adjacent the pivoted portions of the lid andformed with an extension preventing incorrect assembly with respect tosaid lid by engaging said portions of the lid and preventing alinementof the hinging apertures when incorrectly positioned.

10. A spring retainer for journal box lid springs comprising a curvedportion adapted for engaging and stressing an intermediate curvedportion of a spring and perforated ears extending therefrom and adaptedfor pivotal connection with respect to the hinging element between thelid and journal box, said ears being formed with flanges adapted tonormally overlie the adjacent hinging portions on the lid, said flangesserving to prevent incorrect assembly of the spring retainer between thehinge portions of the lid.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BYERS W. KADEL.

